A sat nav, or satellite navigation system, is an essential device for anyone driving an HGV, especially in unfamiliar areas. They’re particular important for professional truck drivers who rely on accurate directions for their collections and deliveries.
It can be difficult to know which sat nav unit is the best for truckers specifically, so we’ve created a specially tailored list to help narrow it down.
So, what are our favourites?
Best Options At A Glance
Product Summaries
Aonerex 7 inch Touch Screen Sat Nav GPS
- Brand - Aonerex
- Dimensions - 21 x 14.9 x 8.1 cm
- Weight - 690 g
- Screen Size - 7 inch
- Special Feature - Alert System
To start off we have a budget option in the Aonerex 7 inch Touch Screen Sat Nav GPS. It’s currently selling on Amazon for £73/$87.
This navigation system from Aonerex features global maps that have free lifetime map updates. It comes pre-installed with the latest European maps, with options for both 2D and 3D map display. There’s also maps of Australia, NZ, USA or Canada that are available to install. The maps are automatically updated annually, but you can also ask the customer service team for a manual update at any time.
It also uses the latest capacitive touchscreen technology, meaning that there’s no need for accessories like styluses. The HD display provides clearer viewing, ensuring the maps are visible for users with poor eyesight.
If you’re looking for an entry level sat nav for your truck make sure that you check out the Aenerex 7 inch.
Buy the Aonerex 7 inch Touch Screen Sat Nav GPS on Amazon for £73/$87:
TomTom GO Classic Sat Nav 5 inch
- Brand - TomTom
- Dimensions - 14.5 x 2.4 x 9.1 cm
- Weight - 209 g
- Screen Size - 5 inch
- Special Feature - Alert System
Another reasonably priced charger is the TomTom GO Classic Sat Nav 5 inch. It’s currently selling on Amazon for £120/$143.
Similarly to the Aonerex 7 inch, the TomTom Go Classic offers automatic map updates so that you’ve always got the latest info. You can get regular Euro map updates as well as software updates via the convenient built-in Wi-Fi. This is great because it means that no laptop or computer is required.
One of the most interesting features of the Go Classic in TomTom Traffic. TomTom Traffic provides time-saving traffic congestion avoidance, with trusted arrival times backed by comprehensive traffic information and real-time updates. This can be really helpful when you can’t afford to lose any time on your journey.
Another interesting feature is the smartphone message alert system. The alert system will automatically read any messages you receive on your smartphone out loud, meaning that you can keep your focus on the road at all times.
If you’re in the market for a well-rounded and reasonably priced sat nav, the Go Classic is a great choice.
Buy the TomTom GO Classic Sat Nav 5 inch on Amazon for £120/$143:
TomTom Truck Sat Nav GO Professional 620
- Brand - TomTom
- Dimensions - aprx. 14.5 x 2.5 x 9 cm
- Weight - 262 g
- Screen Size - 6 inch
- Special Feature - Alert System
Next we have the TomTom Truck Sat Nav GO Professional 620. It’s currently selling on Amazon for £260/$310.
The Professional 620 is another great choice if you’re looking for a sat nav for your truck.
Just like the Classic Go, the Professional 620 offers regular EU map updates via the convenient built-in Wi-Fi. It also has TomTom traffic included as standard, so you will always have the latest information on accidents, alternative routes and more.
One additional feature is the inclusion of points of interest for large vehicles. This feature plans routes to help you work out where is best to fuel up, take a rest, and service your vehicle. The comprehensive POI list was compiled by DKV and ParkyourBus, providing your TomTom GO Professional with 50,000 POIs for large vehicles.
The TomTom Go Professional is a perfect sat nav for large vehicle operators.
Buy the TomTom Truck Sat Nav GO Professional 620 on Amazon for £260/$310:
TomTom Truck Sat Nav GO Expert
- Brand - TomTom
- Dimensions - 18.7 x 2 x 12.2 cm
- Weight - 400 g
- Screen Size - 7 inch
- Special Feature - Lane Guidance
Another great sat nav is t TomTom Truck Sat Nav GO Expert. It’s currently selling on Amazon for £399/$479.
We’ve covered the TomTom GO Classic as well as the GO Professional – now it’s time to take a look at the GO Expert. It builds on the features of the lower end models with some really interesting extras.
The 4 Go Expert has a response time that is around 4 times as fast as some of it’s competitors. This means that you can get all the info you need as soon as you need it with a modern interface and map view. You can swipe, zoom and make route amendments seamlessly on the ultra-responsive touchscreen.
The Wi-Fi based map and software updates are also lighting fast on this higher end model. It’s estimated that the GO Expert will update information approximately 3 times as quickly as some of the cheaper options on the market.
The GO Expert provides an ultra-responsive experience with seamless updates, making it an excellent choice for professionals who can’t afford to waste time.
Buy the TomTom Truck Sat Nav GO Expert on Amazon for £399/$479:
Garmin Dezl LGV810 Truck Sat Nav
- Brand - Garmin
- Dimensions - 9.1 x 27.7 x 17.5 cm
- Weight - aprx. 400 g
- Screen Size - 8 inch
- Special Feature - Lane Guidance
Finally we have a high-end option in the Garmin Dezl LGV810 Truck Sat Nav. It’s currently selling on Amazon for £589/$707.
This sat nav from Garmin is really impressive.
The LGV 810 features cutting-edge arrival technology planning with BirdsEye Satellite Imagery. This provides high-resolution aerial views of key locations for truck drivers, including loading docks, truck entrances and security gates. As you would imagine this is really helpful if you’re driving in an area that you’re not familiar with.
Another interesting feature is the custom truck routing based on the size and weight of your truck. This is great because it gives you warning alerts for upcoming bridge heights, weight limits, sharp curves, steep grades and more.
The route planner feature is also really helpful. This allows drivers to review their complete routes and determine the best places for fuel stops, comfort breaks and overnight stays. This makes the planning process as easy as can be, while simultaneously making your routes more efficient.
If you’re looking for a premium sat nav that has a really impressive feature list, the LGV810 is a prefect choice.
Buy the Garmin Dezl LGV810 Truck Sat Nav on Amazon for £589/$707:
FAQs
In short, yes, an HGV sat nav is an essential for any professional truck driver.
Truck sat navs allow you to input the weight, length and height of your vehicle. This greatly improves the route planning process, automatically avoiding certain roads or bridges depending on the dimensions of the HGV that you’re driving. In addition to bridge heights and weight restrictions, some navigation systems also consider toll roads and speed cameras. This ensures that you can avoid any unnecessary costs on your journey, and this can be especially important if you’re a commercial driver.
There’s loads of great options on the market, but one of all-round favourites is the TomTom Truck Sat Nav GO Professional 620. Tom Tom are a household name when it comes to navigation systems, and the GO Professional 620 definitely lives up to the name. It’s specially designed for large vehicles like trucks and busses, and it’s packed full of useful features for professional drivers.
The key difference is that sat navs designed for lorries or trucks take into account the dimensions of your vehicle, including length, width and height. This is great for planning your routes, as it can help you to avoid low bridges or roads with weight limits that standard sat navs would usually overlook. Some navigation systems also consider other important factors like toll bridges and speed cameras, ensuring that your journey is as smooth as possible.
Some of the highest rated HGV sat nav apps out there include CoPilot GPS, Sygic GPS and inRoute Intelligent Routing, but the best app for you will depend on your personal preferences.
Many drivers still opt to use more traditional GPS apps like Google Maps or Waze thanks to their intuitive interfaces, but unfortunately these apps do not let you specify the dimensions of your vehicle, so you miss out on some the bespoke route planning offered by their competitors.
Thanks for reading our article. If you’re interested in tech for your vehicle, you might want to take a look at our article covering the The 5 Best Wireless Reversing Cameras UK.
Feel free to leave a comment if you have any queries – we’d be happy to help.
